Banyan Tree Global Foundation to Support Eight Projects in ASEAN

The Banyan Tree Global Foundation (BTGF) has confirmed that it will support eight external organisations with projects that will benefit the local communities and natural environment in countries where the group’s hotels and resorts operate.

“We have a track record of providing grants to over 150 partner organisations in the past,” said Dr Steve Newman, Assistant Vice President, Group Sustainability Director and Coordinating Director of BTGF. “In our pursuit of creating an ecosystem of greater good, we have created the Greater Good Grants to offer even more support. Building partnerships has always been important to us as a Group, as we believe it is the key to making a greater impact.”

This inaugural round saw eight NGOs selected based on their projects that fall under one of the six focal areas and which align with the UN Sustainable Developmental Goals (SDGs) and Banyan Tree's core ethos of “Embracing the Environment, Empowering People”.

The SDGs include Biodiversity & Conservation, Resource Use & Waste Management, Climate Change & Resilience, Education & Empowerment, Health & Protection and Culture & Livelihood.

The selected projects will benefit Borneo’s rainforests, Gunung Leuser National Park and Mahakam Delta in Indonesia, Bach Ma National Park and Thua Thien Hue province in Vietnam and Anlung Pring Wetlands in Cambodia.

The other two successful submissions fall under Health & Protection – a water sanitation project (pictured) in Bumi Indah village, Indonesia, as well as women empowerment workshops in Phuket, Thailand.

Ms Claire Chiang, Co-founder & Senior Vice President of Banyan Tree Holdings and Chairperson of Banyan Tree Global Foundation said, “2020 provided some respite from the long-term threat of global warming, but it also highlighted the need to repair our planet, and develop a more substantial, science-based roadmap towards a sustainable future. We may be in the business of hospitality, but we are intrinsically dependent on the intangibles of nature, culture and heritage. The stewardship of biodiversity, culture and livelihood is our duty.”

The Greater Good Grants are open to all individuals over the age of 18 who have an organisational affiliation, for up to US$10,000.

Year 2022 funding may comprise different categories, as specific underserved SDGs may be highlighted.

The next round of submissions will officially open in June 2021.

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